Character Clues

Character Analysis

Actions

Sometimes actions do speak louder than words, especially when those words belong to Briony. As she is not exactly a reliable narrator, each character's true personality is often better portrayed through what they do or refrain from doing.

So when Rose spends much of the second chapter in the cupboard, for instance, we see pretty clearly that she is of a peculiar mental and emotional state. And though Briony wants us to believe her father doesn't care for her or her sister, we see him ask Briony to sing with him, call her a nickname, check on his daughters when they are asleep, and nurse Briony back to health when the Dead Hand attacks her. These are not the actions of a man who doesn't care, but of a loving father trying his best, no matter what Briony says.

On the other hand, Briony speaks lovingly—even obsessively—of her deceased stepmother, but her memories of Stepmother show us actions that are not loving or in the best interest of a child. Would you call it loving and motherly to teach a child to lie to and manipulate their father? Is it kindness and love that makes Stepmother encourage Briony not to attend school in order to take care of her stepmother and sister? We think not.

So keep your eyes peeled, Shmoopsters, for what folks do in this tale. Through their actions, each character reveals their true complex nature, allowing the reader to look past Briony's thoughts and opinions.

Thoughts and Opinions

While we're on the subject, a lot can be gleaned from the thoughts and opinions of each character. For starters, Briony's in-depth, repetitive, and negative thoughts and opinions prove almost instantly that she is depressed (some might even say disturbed), intelligent, and cynical.

Rose tends to express opinions about what she does and does not prefer, revealing that she is shy, artistic, family orientated, and very fond of Robert. And when Eldric expresses his interest in bad boy activities like boxing as well as spending time with and helping Rose, we see that he is tough and manly while also being sensitive and caring. Aw.

Beware, however, because some characters intentionally misrepresent themselves by sharing thoughts and opinions that are not true. Leanne, for example, says that she hates the Old Ones and wishes to see them all hanged—but we know this cannot be true unless she hates her own kind and wishes to herself be hanged which, you know, she most certainly doesn't.

Physical Appearances

Remember when the bad boys—a.k.a. Cecil and Eldric—finally met their competition? This moment is important because it adds some more gunpowder to the fire, of course, but also because it is a prime example of characters being developed through their appearances. Briony describes the differences in the boys with Cecil as pale, tall, and dark and Eldric as electric, broad, and alive. Is it any wonder then that Cecil turns out to be brooding and dangerous while Eldric is fun, exciting, and protective? Not really once you think about it.

This use of physical appearance as characterization continues with the introduction of Leanne. She is described as so beautiful and voluptuous that almost everyone is drawn to her—everything about her physical appearance suggests powers of seduction. As Briony begins to suspect Leanne of negative intentions, she also notices negative things like big teeth (not a good thing unless you're a horse) and a distinctly musty sea smell, and as she does, we are clued into the fact that Leanne isn't as great as she might initially seem.